PsalmsChapter 37

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¹A psalm of David.
Don't be upset because of those who do evil.
Don't be jealous of those who do wrong. ²For they will dry up fast like grass.
They will droop like young plants. ³Trust in the LORD and do good.
Live in the land and grow in faithfulness. ⁴Delight yourself in the LORD.
And he will give you the desires of your heart. ⁵Commit your way to the LORD.
Trust in him, and he will do it. ⁶He will make your right ways shine like the dawn.
He will make your just cause shine like the sun at noon. ⁷Be still before the LORD and wait for him with patience.
Don't be upset when people do well in their ways,
when they carry out their evil plans. ⁸Stop being angry and let go of rage.
Don't be upset. It only leads to harm. ⁹For those who do evil will be cut off.
But those who hope in the LORD will receive the land. ¹⁰In just a little while, the wicked will be gone.
You may look for them, but they won't be found. ¹¹But the humble will receive the land.
They will enjoy great peace and plenty. ¹²The wicked make plans against those who do right.
They grind their teeth at them. ¹³But the Lord laughs at the wicked.
He sees that their day is coming. ¹⁴The wicked have pulled out the sword and bent the bow.
They want to bring down the poor and needy.
They want to kill those whose ways are honest. ¹⁵But their swords will stab their own hearts.
And their bows will be broken. ¹⁶The little that a good person has is better
than the riches of many wicked people. ¹⁷For the arms of the wicked will be broken.
But the LORD holds up those who do right. ¹⁸The LORD knows the days of those who are without blame.
What they receive from him will last forever. ¹⁹In evil times they will not be put to shame.
When there is no food in the land, they will have plenty. ²⁰But the wicked and the enemies of the LORD will die,
like the beauty of the fields.
They will vanish. Like smoke, they will fade away. ²¹The wicked borrow and don't pay back.
But those who do right are kind and give freely. ²²Those the LORD blesses will receive the land.
But those he curses will be destroyed. ²³The LORD guides a man's steps.
He is pleased with the way he goes. ²⁴He may fall, but he will not be crushed.
For the LORD is holding his hand. ²⁵I was young, and now I am old.
Yet I have never seen good people abandoned.
I have never seen their children begging for bread. ²⁶They always give freely and are quick to lend.
And their children are a blessing. ²⁷Turn away from evil and do good,
so that you will remain forever. ²⁸For the LORD loves justice.
He will not leave his holy people.
They are kept safe forever.
But the children of the wicked will be cut off. ²⁹Those who do right will receive the land.
They will live in it forever. ³⁰The mouth of a good man speaks wisdom.
His tongue says what is fair. ³¹The law of his God is in his heart.
His steps do not slip. ³²The wicked hide and wait for those who do right.
They try to kill them. ³³But the LORD will not leave them in their power.
He will not let them be found guilty when they are judged. ³⁴Wait for the LORD and keep to his way.
He will lift you up to receive the land.
When the wicked are cut off, you will see it. ³⁵I have seen a wicked and cruel man.
He was growing strong like a tree with deep roots in its own soil. ³⁶But he passed away and was gone.
I looked for him, but he could not be found. ³⁷Look at the person who is without blame.
Watch the one who is honest.
For the man of peace will have a future. ³⁸But all who rebel will be destroyed.
The future of the wicked will be cut off. ³⁹The LORD saves those who do right.
He is their strong fort in times of trouble. ⁴⁰The LORD helps them and rescues them.
He rescues them from the wicked and saves them,
because they run to him to be safe.